FRICKE WINS AUSSIE OPENER

LEICESTER No.1 Max Fricke won the opening round of the Australian Championship at North Brisbane – with new Oxford signing Rohan Tungate the early leader of the series.

Fricke, who is back for a second season with the Lions this year, was victorious in the Final at the Mick Doohan Raceway as he overtook Tungate, who had outscored him by two points in the qualifying races.

With 4-3-2-1 scoring in the Final it means Tungate – who returns to the UK full-time for the first time since 2019 having signed on for the Spires as they enter the Sports Insure Premiership – holds a narrow one-point advantage in the standings with four rounds remaining.

Belle Vue star Jaimon Lidsey finished third and joins Fricke on 15 points overall, with Sheffield and Edinburgh’s Josh Pickering on 12 after missing out in the Final.

Photo credit: DAVE PAYNE